The first trailer for the new HBO Harry Potter show and the announcement of the upcoming Lord of the Rings movie confirm that these two iconic fantasy series are making a major comeback in 2026. Following the success of HBO’s Game of Thrones, the fantasy genre has become increasingly popular with adult viewers.
Following the conclusion of Game of Thrones, several popular shows have continued to satisfy fans of mature fantasy dramas. Series like The Legend of Vox Machina, Arcane, Interview with a Vampire, Netflix’s The Witcher, and Castlevania have all been critically praised for their adult themes and high quality. This success extends to Game of Thrones’ own spin-offs, House of the Dragon and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, which have also received positive reviews.
Harry Potter’s Upcoming HBO Show and The New Lord Of the Rings Movies Bring Back Two Major Fantasy Franchises
Looking at this list of popular, mature fantasy shows, it’s clear something’s missing. Surprisingly, the big, family-friendly fantasy franchises that were once guaranteed hits haven’t been seen on screen for a while.
Good news for fantasy fans: the upcoming HBO series based on Harry Potter and the new Lord of the Rings movie, The Hunt for Gollum, signal a return to the core stories of these beloved franchises. While Fantastic Beasts and Amazon’s The Rings of Power kept these worlds alive in some ways, these latest projects are bringing the main narratives back to the forefront.
The Fantastic Beasts films and The Rings of Power both tell stories that happened before the events of the Harry Potter movies and The Lord of the Rings trilogy. The new movie, The Hunt for Gollum, will fit into the timeline between The Hobbit and The Fellowship of the Ring. And the upcoming HBO show will be a fresh start, retelling the story of Harry Potter.
Harry Potter’s HBO Show and The Lord Of the Rings Movies Both Go Back To Basics
As a huge fan, I’m really excited about the new Harry Potter series coming to HBO – it’ll be a fresh take on the story we all know and love! And it’s great news that Andy Serkis is making a movie, The Hunt for Gollum, to bridge the gap between The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. It feels like both franchises are going back to their roots, and I’m here for it after all these years of exploring different stories!
Some might say this approach is cautious, and could lead to both projects feeling similar and unnecessarily repeating old ideas. This is especially true for the HBO series, which essentially retells a story we’ve already seen. Still, the return of both the Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings franchises is exciting news for fantasy lovers.
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2026-03-26 21:38